Summer freshing up begins
Discussion
Not much progress this week as i've been driving in it every chance i've had.
I had a play with the suspension as it was really hard, set to about 12 clicks front and slightly more at rear but then it was too soft so i've set a few more clicks. Just need some more testing really.
The ride height was strange, higher at front than rear? i've adjusted it as per the pics below, trying to get around 135mm front and 150mm rear but the rear still needs going higher, but the springs seem to be getting near the top of the shock? I'll have a play tomorrow.
Couple of problems fixed so far. The buzzer i fitted to warn when lights were left on kept going off randomly, checked the door switches, lubricated them and noticed one of the bits of rubber was missing from the drivers door so i tigersealed a grommit to the door and it's fixed it, it's also fixed the alarm which used to go off all the time.
She over heats as well, left it running on the drive and loads of steam shot out the engine bay so i quickly turned engine off and let it cool down. The fans weren't coming on, tested and found out the otter switch is knackered so i'm getting one tomorrow thats slightly lower rated.
Alternator was also buggered which would explain some previous problems, bought a reconditioned one for £40 - bargain.
Can't wait for next week now, roof and carpet being fitted
I had a play with the suspension as it was really hard, set to about 12 clicks front and slightly more at rear but then it was too soft so i've set a few more clicks. Just need some more testing really.
The ride height was strange, higher at front than rear? i've adjusted it as per the pics below, trying to get around 135mm front and 150mm rear but the rear still needs going higher, but the springs seem to be getting near the top of the shock? I'll have a play tomorrow.
Couple of problems fixed so far. The buzzer i fitted to warn when lights were left on kept going off randomly, checked the door switches, lubricated them and noticed one of the bits of rubber was missing from the drivers door so i tigersealed a grommit to the door and it's fixed it, it's also fixed the alarm which used to go off all the time.
She over heats as well, left it running on the drive and loads of steam shot out the engine bay so i quickly turned engine off and let it cool down. The fans weren't coming on, tested and found out the otter switch is knackered so i'm getting one tomorrow thats slightly lower rated.
Alternator was also buggered which would explain some previous problems, bought a reconditioned one for £40 - bargain.
Can't wait for next week now, roof and carpet being fitted
Brett
Mate - you HAVE to be proud of this - great job matey and looks the fecking nads! (Just wish I snapped up those wheels when I had the chance!)
Did you consider doing the steering cowl in the same colour of the surround?
I did it and I really like the finished effect - and even with the keys banging about, the colour is still good (I did a few coats of gloss to make darn sure!)
Well done matey!
Here was my finished effect...
Mate - you HAVE to be proud of this - great job matey and looks the fecking nads! (Just wish I snapped up those wheels when I had the chance!)
Did you consider doing the steering cowl in the same colour of the surround?
I did it and I really like the finished effect - and even with the keys banging about, the colour is still good (I did a few coats of gloss to make darn sure!)
Well done matey!
Here was my finished effect...
Thanks Phil, yeah i'm pretty proud to be honest, took enough time and effort to get it like this, not perfect and lots of work to do still but getting there.
I tried the seat sides in the leather colour but it scratched easy, i didn't think to try the sealant on top though. I might do the steering colum at some point i'm just going to get some driving before the winter sets in, then the fun begins on the engine
I tried the seat sides in the leather colour but it scratched easy, i didn't think to try the sealant on top though. I might do the steering colum at some point i'm just going to get some driving before the winter sets in, then the fun begins on the engine
Had my first long trip this weekend up to Blackpool to visit The Trim Technician for roof and carpet fitting. Cannot recommend John enough, finish is excellent but it's the other stuff that impressed me. Drove down Friday night so I could drop off first thing Saturday, got a phone call Friday night to check I had made it down ok, little thing maybe, but old school customer service you don't get from a lot of places. The roof I purchased from CarTrimmingCompany with a small rear window, they supplied material to trim the targa but it wasn't right? Too think, different to the rear panel mohair. luckily John had some top quality mohair so he could trim the targe for me, it's a very slightly different material but not raelly noticable? The smaller rear window still gives excellent visability, won't crease when lowered and I think it looks better than standard.
When fitting the roof, the rear bulkhead fixing part got damaged slighty so he retrimmed in black vinyl for no extra charge.
The carpets were from Coverdale but didn't fit perfect as i'd move the battery etc so John made up some extra bits for me, working until about 9pn at night to get it all done. With the dynamat and carpet fitted it is so much nicer to drive, noise and heat is greatly reduced, 2.5 hour trip and no shouting needed to talk to passenger. It's nice to not have holes as well, it didn't stop raining all the way there and back, British weather sucks
Car luckily didn't miss a beat at all, apart from driving from the hotel to trimmers on Sat morning, the heaviest rain and the bloody wipers stopped worked. They had come loose and just wouldn't spin, what a pain in the ass, only needed tightening up though.
Only managed to get a couple pics before the rain came down again
little video of a Tunnel blast coming home from Stoke, I LOVE the sound through tunnels but the iphone doesn't capture it very well
When fitting the roof, the rear bulkhead fixing part got damaged slighty so he retrimmed in black vinyl for no extra charge.
The carpets were from Coverdale but didn't fit perfect as i'd move the battery etc so John made up some extra bits for me, working until about 9pn at night to get it all done. With the dynamat and carpet fitted it is so much nicer to drive, noise and heat is greatly reduced, 2.5 hour trip and no shouting needed to talk to passenger. It's nice to not have holes as well, it didn't stop raining all the way there and back, British weather sucks
Car luckily didn't miss a beat at all, apart from driving from the hotel to trimmers on Sat morning, the heaviest rain and the bloody wipers stopped worked. They had come loose and just wouldn't spin, what a pain in the ass, only needed tightening up though.
Only managed to get a couple pics before the rain came down again
little video of a Tunnel blast coming home from Stoke, I LOVE the sound through tunnels but the iphone doesn't capture it very well
Rib said:
Azev a 17" 7.5j and me lol kinda wishing I hadn't got rid now.....
You beat me to it mate 
I'm glad you did, tried finding them for ages but they only make them in 16" now so you have to get lucky and find some second hand, or if you have a good budget get some made which are similar from Image Wheels
brett84 said:
I'm quite tall and fit in with the roof on, just.
i remember from my mx5 days that people often removed the foam from inside the mk1 seat base and remove a layer of it.on cloth seats the result can look a little baggy unless you modify the cloth a bit but on leather ones (due to less stretch in the fabric) they look normal
well worth it though, as you gain headroom and the seat seems to grip you better and all without any loss of comfort.
edit - guides how to do it here.
http://www.miata.net/garage/headroom.html
http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5...
other than that google mx5 foamectomy
FINALLY got around to doing some more work on the car recently, well.... not too much yet but i've been ordering stuff at last. Stripped off the brakes and suspension front and rear, which would have been an easy job if everything wasn't rusted solid.
So the plans are....
The original brakes were crap so i've gone for standard new discs and ds2500 pads. BMW 7 series front calipers, focus RS 324mm discs, ATE super blue fluid. Poly bushes all round and will be ordering some Gaz monos tomorrow
While the front is apart i'm going to change most parts as they have seen better days, wheel bearings, TRE, engine mounts (knackered), ball joints.
So the plans are....
The original brakes were crap so i've gone for standard new discs and ds2500 pads. BMW 7 series front calipers, focus RS 324mm discs, ATE super blue fluid. Poly bushes all round and will be ordering some Gaz monos tomorrow
While the front is apart i'm going to change most parts as they have seen better days, wheel bearings, TRE, engine mounts (knackered), ball joints.
brett84 said:
They need a bracket as the mounting holes are different but not much work, people sell them on ebay or you can make one up.
Calipers were a bargain, £170 fully refurb'd
Thats a very good price indeed Calipers were a bargain, £170 fully refurb'd
For my set-up I also had to make a bracket, but when I would use the M3 E46 M3 (325mm) discs and the Brembo 4-pots of the 840ci then I did not need the brackets, those use other mounting points, 122mm same as the Z3M/M3-E36 etc, but from the 7-E38 they are about 112mm indeed.
but I don't know what the TVR uses
The rain and cold weather isn't going to stop getting things back together.
New rear discs and pads, lines are braided and bushes are poly. Gaz monos fitted.
Tea break brought out my Dad, I think i'm powered by Yorkshire tea most of the time
front brakes are now 324mm discs from a focus RS, callipers are E38 BMW, mintex 1144 pads, braided lines, blue brake fluid
New rear discs and pads, lines are braided and bushes are poly. Gaz monos fitted.
Tea break brought out my Dad, I think i'm powered by Yorkshire tea most of the time
front brakes are now 324mm discs from a focus RS, callipers are E38 BMW, mintex 1144 pads, braided lines, blue brake fluid
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